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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID N. OARVALHO, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE OELLULOID MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

PHOTOGRAPHIC BACKGROUND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 237,247, dated February 1, 1881.

Application filed November 22, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID N. GARVALHO, of New York, in the county of New York and Stateof New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Photographic Backgrounds, of which the following is a specifica non.

The invention relates to an improvement in the manufacture of backgrounds used in the photographic art.

It has been customary heretofore to employ a background in the form of a screen or frame, which has usually consisted of a painting or picture on canvas which has been placed in position in the rear of the subject. The use of a background of this character has involved a great many difficulties and annoyances, and by reason of the expense and other circumstances it has been impossible to use more than a limited number of effects in agallery. Another method has been to produce a background on glass and gelatine, to all intents and purposes an ordinary negative, which has been used in connection with the negative employed in taking the subject, the two being secured together in a printing or pressure frame in the usual way, or by double-vignetting. There are many objections, however, to this class of backgrounds, owing to the difficulty in using them in the pressureframe, the

great danger of injury by abrasion or breakage, the fading or loss of tint of the negative, and other circumstances.

To obviate those and other objections is the object of my invention, which is effected by the employment of a background formed of translucent celluloid or other analogous plastic material.

The invention consists, essentially, in print- 0 ing or otherwise applying a design illustrating a scene upon a thin piece of translucent or transparent celluloid or other analogous plastic material, which is used substantially in the manner that backgrounds on glass and 4 5 gelatine have heretofore been used.

By preference the design or picture will be printed by any mechanical means upon the (No specimens.)

sheet of celluloid, the size and shape being adapted to the size and shape of the photographic print in connection with which it is intended to be used. By this means a great variety of backgrounds may be produced in connection with each subject, it being only necessary to change the background when a fresh piece of paper is introduced into the printing-frame, with the sheet of celluloid lying between the negative and sensitive paper.

One of the advantages of my invention, to which I direct particular attention as being of especial moment, is that by the use of a thin sheet of celluloid the operator is enabled to bring the background into much more intimate relations with the negative, so that the contact between the negative and background is much more perfect, and, as a consequence, the picture made much sharper and clearer. 1 therefore preferably, in using my improy'ed background in the printing-frames, employ as great pressure as can carefully be applied in lockin g the frame.

The background made of celluloid is inexpensive and not liable to injury by any ordinary use. It may be quickly and easily ap plied, and is capable of receiving and permanently retaining the most elaborate design.

I do not limit myself to the application of the design or scenic effect in any particular way; but

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

As a new article of manufacture, a photographic background consisting of a sheet of translucent or transparent celluloid or other analogous material bearing a scenic design, substantially as described. 8 5

In testimony that I claim the foregoing improvement in backgrounds of celluloid or analogous plastic material, as above described, I have hereunto set my hand this 12th day of November, 1880.

DAVID N. OARVALHO. Witnesses:

R. B. LAWRENCE, CHAS. O. GILL. 

